Internal pull-out expandable contractible pour spout
cap for liquid container openings

ABSTRACT

An expandable contractible pour spout cap adapted to secure to openings of fluid containers for motor oils, transmission fluids, cooking oils, liquors, etc. with an extendable corrugated hose in communication with the interior of the container and an open pouring end, which extends in a pour position, and collapses back into the pour spout cap in a storage position.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is dependent upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 62/002,845 filed May 24, 2014 entitled “Internal Pull-Out Expandable Contractible Pour Spout Insert for Containers”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This invention pertains to container pour spouts. More particularly it relates to an internally mounted expandable contractible pour spout insert for containers for motor oils, transmission fluids, cooking oils, liquids, liquors, etc.

2. Statement of the Art

A variety of pour spouts and funnels for pouring liquids from containers are known. Lukenbill, U.S. Pat. No. 1,804,627 issued May 12, 1931 discloses a sanitary pouring cap with accordion extending and retracting pour spout. Borah, U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,273 issued Jun. 11, 1963 discloses a retractable and extendable container spout. Nagy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,832 issued Apr. 4, 1989 discloses a telescoping nozzle assembly adapted to be secure to the opening of container to facilitate pouring of container fluid. Johnston Wills, Pub. No. US 2004/0188474 published Sep. 30, 2004 discloses a collapsible/flexible pouring attachment to pour liquid from a plastic bottle and/or container. Borah, U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,242 issued Aug. 27, 1957 discloses a container spout and gasket combination. Rigel, U.S. Pat. No. 8,430,279 issued Apr. 30, 2013 discloses a bottle accessory for application with a cap to the neck of a bottle, particularly useful for attaching a retractable spout to a bottle.

Cited for general interest is Black, U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,154 issued Mar. 17, 1981 disclosing a bottle with retractable funnel top.

Other devices are secured to the opening of a liquid container to assist in pouring therefore. Motor oil and transmission fluid pour spouts typically have a fixed or flexible hose with mounting adapted to screw onto the exterior threads of an opened container. Cooking oils have a spout with mountings adapted to insert into the opening of a container opening. Funnels come in a variety of shapes and designs to contain and direct fluids into a desired bottle or container.

Most of these pour spouts and funnels are combination cap/pour spouts that are difficult to construct, produce, or to secure to the opening of a liquid container. Other separate pour spout and funnel devices required to be applied after a fluid container is opened.

There thus remains a need for an improved built-in flexible spout affixed to a container to eliminate the need for finding a funnel or other spouts to aid in pouring. The apparatus described below provides such an invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an expandable contractible pour spout cap adapted to secure to openings of fluid containers. It comprises a flexible expandable/contractible telescoping accordion pour spout with a first pouring end and a second end defining a channel in communication with an interior of a fluid container, when mounted on openings of fluid containers to deliver fluids through its pouring end.

A pour spout pull cap with a separable pour spout base encloses the collapsed telescoping accordion pour spout, which is secured to openings of fluid containers by the pull cap base. The pull cap is removably secured to the first end of the accordion pour spout to close its channel in a storage mode. For pouring, the pull cap is pulled and removed from its pull cap base extending the pour spout. The pull cap is then removed for pouring in a pouring mode. After pouring, the pull cap is replaced back onto the first end of the telescoping according pour spout to close the same for storing liquids in the fluid container in a storage mode. The telescoping accordion pour spout may or may not be compressed and secured back into the pour spout pull cap and its pour spout base for storage depending upon the preference of a user.

The pull cap base structured to affix to and form a seal with openings of fluid containers. The pull cap base usually is threaded internally or externally to secure to corresponding threads associating with the opening of the fluid container.

The pull cap is structured to snap into the pull cap base when not in use. It is then unsnapped and extended when the pour spout is to be used. To aid in its removal, the pull cap may include a retractable finger pull ring.

A flexible extension/inversion coupling with a top and bottom secures the second end of the telescoping accordion pour spout to the pull cap base to aid in extension and contraction. The coupling bottom is structured to be secured by the pull cap base to seal the opening of the fluid container in communication with the accordion pour spout channel The flexible extension/inversion coupling length is sized to enfold within the opening of the fluid container at a depth to accommodate the collapsed telescoping accordion pour spout in a collapsed storage mode for the pull cap and base to close over the pour collapsed pour spout within the fluid container opening. The flexible extension/inversion coupling is then extended beyond the opening of the fluid container to release and extend the telescoping pour spout for pouring in an extended mode.

In one variation, the bottom of the flexible extension/inversion coupling is structured as a flanged gasket to secure about the opening of the fluid container when the pull cap threaded base is screwed onto the container threaded opening

The pour spout bottom, telescoping accordion pour spout and extension/inversion coupling may be constructed as one piece with the fluid container. This embodiment has the pour spout cap then threadably attached to the end of the pour spout opening to removably seal the same.

In another embodiment for squeezable fluid containers, the pull cap may include a flow valve mounted within the first end of the pour spout, which in one mode allows fluid to pass for pouring when squeezed, and in another mode prevents fluids from passing as the pour spout is positioned for emptying the fluid container.

In still another embodiment, the expandable contractible pour spout cap and its bottom are adapted to separately secure to a threaded end of the flexible telescoping accordion pour spout and the threaded neck openings of fluid containers. The pull cap is screw mounted to the threaded first end of the pour to close its channel for storage in a storage mode. The pull cap is removed from its threaded base to extend the pour spout for pouring in a pouring mode. The pull cap is replaced and secured to the pull cap base structured to screw onto and form a seal with the threaded openings of fluid containers.

The expandable contractible pour spout cap may be incorporated as part of a liquid container or as a separate cartridge insert structured to fit and secure to the opening of the neck of a fluid container forming a fluid tight seal. The separate cartridge insert embodiment has the same extendable pour and flexible extension/inversion coupling in communication with the interior of the fluid container neck when secured therein as described above.

In one embodiment, the cartridge insert can be made to fit various sized containers having threaded neck openings Other cartridge insert configurations snap fit to the container neck openings with fluid type joints wherein the cartridge insert secures within or without the container pour opening to form fluid sealed joints. In another cartridge insert configuration, the cartridge insert is constructed as a glued insert cemented into position forming a sealed container for shipping and storage.

The flex hose accordion tubing is expandable and collapsible made of a corrugated thin plastic. The corrugated shaped allows it to bend in a desired direction when extended for pouring. It then collapses back into the cartridge insert for storage.

The invention thus provides a simple cost effective pour spout cartridge that can be manufactured in different sizes to adapt to most containers to provide a container with a built in pour spout. This eliminates the need for funnels and additional attachable spouts, which are more expensive. It provides a container with a flexible plastic spout that sits inside the cartridge with a pull top cap that is disposable or reusable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the extended pour spout cap affixed to the neck of a fluid container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the pour spout cap of FIG. 1 contracted.

FIG. 2a illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 2 extended after the screw cap is removed.

FIG. 3 illustrates the separate components of the pour spout cap 10 disassembled.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the pour spout cap

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a flow valve with scored segments preventing fluids from flowing.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the flow valve of FIG. 5 with separated scored segments allowing fluids to flow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the extended pour spout cap 10 affixed to the neck of a fluid container. The pour spout cap 10 has a pull ring 12. The pour spout cap 10 is attached to a threaded end 14 of a flexible accordion hose 16 to extend the same for pouring. The other end 18 of the flexible accordion hose 16 is affixed to the top 20 of a flexible extension/inversion coupling 22 forming a continuous channel in communication with the interior of the container, when mounted to the neck of a fluid container by the pour spout cap base 26. The bottom 24 of the flexible extension/inversion coupling 24 is flanged, and secured by the pour spout cap base 26 to the neck of the fluid container forming a gasket type fluid tight seal.

The pour spout cap 10 is unscrewed from the threaded end 14 of the flexible accordion hose 16 for pouring fluids from the container. After pouring, the pour spout cap 10 is screwed back on to store remaining fluids in the container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the pour spout cap 10 of FIG. 1 contracted to store within the neck of the container the compressed flexible accordion hose 16 supported by the inverted flexible extension/inversion coupling 24 and secured to the neck of the fluid container by the pour spout cap base 26. A protective screw cap 13 is optionally affixed to secure the entire assembly to the neck of a fluid container.

FIG. 2a illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 2 extended after the screw cap 13 is removed.

FIG. 3 illustrates the separate components of the pour spout cap 10 disassembled.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the pour spout cap 10, showing the pull ring 12 lying flat.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an optional simple optional flow control valve 28 included at the base of the extension/inversion coupling 24 secured by the pour spout cap base 26. The control valve 28 shown is a circular plastic gasket scored to form a plurality of pie shaped segments 30 when a container is squeezed forcing apart the segments 30 allowing fluids to flow thereby as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the one way valve 28 of FIG. 5, which in one mode allows fluid to pass for pouring, and in another mode prevents fluids from passing. The container pressure forces fluids past the extended segments 30 allowing fluids to pass. When the container pressure is released, the extended segments 30 retract to prevent fluids from passing. This optional flow control valve 28 is particularly useful in pouring liquids into hard to reach areas preventing spilling until a container is positioned and squeezed to empty its contents.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive.

The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

I claim:
 1. An expandable contractible pour spout cap adapted to secure to openings of fluid containers, comprising: a. a flexible telescoping accordion pour spout with a first end and a second end defining a channel in communication with an interior of a fluid container, when mounted, b. a pull cap removably affixed to a pull cap base, the pull cap removably secured to the first end of the accordion pour spout to close its channel in a storage mode, which pull cap is removed from the pull cap base to extend the pour spout for pouring in a pouring mode, and replaced on the first end for storing liquids in the fluid container in a storage mode; the pull cap base structured to affix to and form a seal with openings of fluid containers; c. a flexible extension/inversion coupling with a top affixed to the second end of the telescoping accordion pour spout and a bottom structured to be secured by the pull cap base to seal the opening of the fluid container in communication with the accordion pour spout channel; the coupling of a length sized to enfold within the opening of the fluid container at a depth to accommodate the collapsed telescoping accordion pour spout in a collapsed mode for the pull cap and base to close over the fluid container opening, and the coupling extendable beyond the opening of the fluid container to release the telescoping pour spout for pouring in an extended mode.
 2. The pour spout cap according to claim 1, wherein the expandable contractible pour spout cap is constructed of one piece with the fluid container.
 3. The pour spout cap according to claim 1, wherein the flexible telescoping accordion pour spout segment and the flexible extension/inversion coupling are of one piece uni-body construction.
 4. The pour spout cap according to claim 1, wherein the pull cap is threaded, and the first end of the pour spout has corresponding threads so that the pull cap screws on and off the first end of the pour spout.
 5. The pour spout cap according to claim 1, wherein the pull cap is structured with a finger pull ring.
 6. The pour spout cap according to claim 1, wherein the pull cap base is threaded with threads corresponding to threaded openings of the opening of fluid containers to screw on and of the fluid container.
 7. An expandable contractible pour spout cap adapted to secure to threaded openings of fluid containers comprising: a. a flexible telescoping according pour spout with a threaded first end and a second end defining a channel in communication with an interior of a fluid container when mounted, b. a pull cap removably affixed to a threaded pull cap base, the pull cap screw mounted to the first end of the accordion pour spout to close its channel in a storage mode, and which pull cap is removed from the threaded pull cap base to extend the pour spout for pouring in a pouring mode; the pull cap base structured to screw onto and form a seal with the threaded openings of fluid containers; c. a coupling with a top affixed to the second end of the telescoping accordion pour spout and a bottom structured to be secured by the pull cap threaded base to seal the threaded opening of the fluid container in communication with the accordion pour spout channel; the coupling of a length sized to fit within the opening of the fluid container at a depth to accommodate the collapsed telescoping accordion pour spout in a collapsed mode for the pull cap and base to close over the fluid container threaded opening, and release the telescoping pour spout for pouring in an extended pouring mode.
 8. The pour spout cap according to claim 7, wherein the coupling is flexible and extendable of a length sized to enfold within the opening of the fluid container at a depth to accommodate the collapsed telescoping accordion pour spout in a collapsed mode for the pull cap and base to secure and close over the fluid container threaded opening in a storage mode, and the coupling extendable beyond the opening of the fluid container to release the telescoping pour spout for pouring in an extended pouring mode.
 9. The pour spout cap according to claim 8, wherein the bottom of the coupling is structured as a flanged gasket to secure about the opening of the fluid container when the pull cap threaded base is screwed onto the container threaded opening.
 10. An expandable contractible pour spout cap adapted to secure to openings of squeezable fluid containers, comprising: a. a flexible telescoping accordion pour spout with a first end and a second end defining a channel in communication with an interior of a fluid container, when mounted, b. a pull cap removably affixed to a pull cap base, the pull cap removably secured to the first end of the accordion pour spout to close its channel in a storage mode, which pull cap is removed from the pull cap base to extend the pour spout for pouring in a pouring mode, and replaced on the first end for storing liquids in the fluid container in a storage mode; the pull cap base structured to affix to and form a seal with openings of fluid containers; c. a flexible extension/inversion coupling with a top affixed to the second end of the telescoping accordion pour spout and a bottom structured to be secured by the pull cap base to seal the opening of the fluid container in communication with the accordion pour spout channel; the coupling of a length sized to enfold within the opening of the fluid container at a depth to accommodate the collapsed telescoping accordion pour spout in a collapsed mode for the pull cap and base to close over the fluid container opening, and the coupling extendable beyond the opening of the fluid container to release the telescoping pour spout for pouring in an extended mode, and d. a flow valve mounted proximate the second end of the pour spout, which in one mode allows fluid to pass when the container is squeezed for pouring, and in another mode prevents fluids from passing.
 11. The pour spout cap according to claim 10, wherein the expandable contractible pour spout cap is constructed of one piece with the fluid container. 